Psychology Commons^™

Young Adults’ Romantic Relationships: The Relation Between Perceived Pressure To Disclose And Disclosure To Romantic Partners, Jessica Truscott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe most personal level of communication is intentional self-disclosure of one’s feelings or thoughts with another individual. Within the context of romantic relationships, disclosure between partners has implications for the relationships and for individual well-being. However, less is known about whether perceived pressure to disclose is related to young adults’ amount of disclosure to their partners. The theoretical frameworks applied to this study included social penetration theory, self-disclosure theory, and Reis and Shaver’s intimacy process model. The primary purpose of this quantitative secondary analysis of previously collected data by Rose was to test whether young adults’ perceived pressure from their …

The Experience Of Compassion Fatigue In School Counselors, Melissa Lynn Manganaro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School counselors play a crucial role in U.S. education. In recent years, their student caseloads have increased as more students are diagnosed with a mental health disorder. With additional stressors from providing social/emotional counseling, school counselors are vulnerable to secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue; however, research was limited on counselors' experiences of these conditions. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain understanding of school counselors' experiences of compassion fatigue and strategies for coping. Ten school counselors from public schools in Arizona, who had scored in the moderate- to high-risk range on the Compassion Fatigue Self-Test, …

Food Insecure Single Mothers’ Perceptions In Accessing School Nutrition Programs During Covid-19, Deshona Williams Liburd Audain

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Global pandemics and natural disasters can cause basic human needs hardships. Being able to access adequate nutritious food is a fundamental basic human need. Food insecurity remains a dominant concern in underdeveloped countries prior to natural disaster and global pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 low-income United States Virgin Islands single mothers’ dilemma was accessing available nutritious foods for their school-aged children through nutrition assistance programs. An interpretative phenomenological qualitative study was conducted to explore the types of lived experiences these single mothers faced. The social ecological model (SEM) was used as the conceptual framework for the study. The …

School Officials' Perceptions Of Threat Assessment Programs, William Ward

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Acts of targeted violence on school grounds, and most notably school shootings, continue to occur and are a serious concern for many people. Behavioral threat assessment programs are one method being used to address this problem, and while considerable research has been conducted on threat assessment programs, very little research has been conducted on how school officials implement, operate, or understand these programs. A more informed awareness of how school officials perceive the implementation, operation, and usefulness of threat assessment programs may provide insight into ways to improve the implementation and management of these programs. This was a qualitative phenomenological …

Current Practices For Forensic Assessments Of Offenders, Garet Bradford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCurrent Practices for Forensic Assessments of Offenders by Garet Bradford MA, University of Cincinnati, 2017 BA, University of Nevada, 2014 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Forensic Psychology Walden University August 2023

Grade 3 Teachers’ Perceptions Of Challenges And Supports In Addressing Socioemotional Needs Of African American Students, Lavina Nicole Covin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Empirical evidence from researchers suggested that socioemotional learning is essential to academic success, reducing negative behaviors, and building confidence and resilience. The problem explored in this basic qualitative study was that Grade 3 teachers in Title I schools were not adequately equipped to handle African American students’ socioemotional and mental health needs. Guided by Seligman’s positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishments theory, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of 10 local district Title I Grade 3 teachers regarding the challenges they face, and support they need to provide adequate socioemotional and mental health interventions …

The Relationship Between Exercise Self-Efficacy, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs, And Exercise In Individual’S With Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Mary Bridget Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a form of dysautonomia in which the autonomic nervous system malfunctions. An effective treatment for POTS is exercise; however, many individuals with POTS are unable to complete a standardized exercise regimen. The purpose of this study was to improve the understanding of why individuals with POTS may or may not engage in the beneficial practice of exercise by exploring factors such as low exercise self-efficacy (ESE) and elevated fear-avoidance beliefs (FAB). The theoretical foundation that grounded this study was the social learning theory (SLT) and social cognitive theory (SCT). The research questions explored the …

Admission Timing, Age, Sex, Pain, And Disability As Outcome Predictors Of Short-Term Pain Programs, Nanesha Courtney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have found that age, sex, education level, and pretreatment pain levels may be significant predictors of patient outcomes; however, it remained unknown whether the timing of treatment predicts pain and disability after a multidisciplinary short-term intensive pain treatment program. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to use archival data to examine whether the timing of entry into a multidisciplinary short-term intensive pain treatment program predicted pain and functioning levels at posttreatment. Glasser’s choice theory was used to examine whether the combined effect of pretreatment pain, occupational disability level, age, sex, education level, and time of entrance predicted …

The Experience Of Social Support In Doctoral Dissertation Student Mothers, Melissa Anne Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women who are actively parenting and employed professionally comprise a significant number of the overall global doctorate population attempting to complete their dissertation. A Ph.D. in psychology requires years of commitment of which many women will never complete. The final dissertation phase of the degree process is infamous for being viewed by students as potentially isolative. There is a need to better understand how doctoral student mothers completing their dissertation in a Ph.D. psychology program experience social support. The research questions explored doctoral student mothers’ social support experiences as they completed their dissertation. Tinto’s social integration theory guided the overall …

Adolescent Bereavement After Sudden Loss Of A Close Friend, Alora Elizabeth Zulliger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the prevalence of sudden death in adolescence, there is a deficiency of resources and support for adolescents who have lost a close friend to premature death. These resources are vital, as the sudden and unexpected death of a close friend is often traumatizing and can contribute to a sense of instability in young people. Although a great deal of academic research has been conducted on sibling or parental grief during adolescence, there existed a need for further research on peer loss during adolescence. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to describe the essence and meaning of the lived …

The Lived Experiences Of Entry-Level Employees With Posttraumatic Growth Following Workplace Gaslighting, Marielys Camacho-Reyes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although researchers have studied workplace gaslighting (a devious and manipulative tactic used by abusers) in recent years, little is known about it. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of entry-level employees with gaslighting. The conceptual frameworks for this study were the resilience and posttraumatic growth (PTG) concepts. The sample consisted of currently employed participants ages 20 - 45 with two or more years of college experience who, during their first year in an entry-level position, experienced gaslighting. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom and data was analyzed and coded manually. The analysis revealed …

Women’S Lived Experience With Shame In Intimacy After Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse, Meg Christine Justison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a global problem and can lead to substantial challenges in adult intimate relationships. Though there is considerable research on CSA, relationships, and relationship challenges, one area that required further study was how shame was felt by women who have experienced CSA. Interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to explore these shame experiences in adult intimate relationships in women who had this history. Strength resilience theory was used as the framework for exploring their shame and resilience experiences. Open-ended, semistructured interviews were conducted with eight women aged 18 to 50 who were in intimate relationships. Results …

Glass Ceiling Encountered By Female Chief Executive Officers As They Advance To C-Level Positions In International Nonprofit Sports Organizations., Eric Edokpaigbe Idehen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women are underrepresented as chief executive officers (CEOs), executive-level officers, board directors, and national sports organization board chairs in 45 countries. Despite social movements, laws, and practices supporting equal employment opportunities and workplace equality, women in top senior-level positions are still lacking. The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges women face in terms of obtaining CEO leadership roles in international nonprofit sports organizations. The study involved exploring limitations eight women faced when aspiring to CEO positions in terms of leadership development, talent management, and policies involving international nonprofit sports organizations. This study employed a qualitative descriptive phenomenological …

The Lived Experiences Of Elders’ Age-Related Changes In Emotional And Social Factors, Sheneze Thiffiny Valencia Madramootoo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a need for more studies examining elderly’s perspective of age-related changes in emotional (anxiety, depression, hope and optimism) and social (interpersonal relationships, social support and level of engagement or activity) factors. There is an increase in psychological needs for older adults, and it is important to explore and enhance knowledge in this field to better serve this population. The purpose of this qualitative research was to describe the lived experiences of elders’ age-related changes in emotional and social factors. The theories and concepts that grounded this study included the activity theory of aging and the continuity theory of …

Gender Transitioning In Childhood: A Hermeneutic Study Of Parental Reactions, Ashley Rosenberg

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The visibility of the transgender community has grown in recent years. The purpose of the hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand and provide context to the experiences of parents whose children have transitioned from their assigned birth sex to their authentic gender identity. The theoretical framework used was Kubler Ross’ “Five Stages of Grief.” Participants were interviewed by using semi structured interviews on Zoom. A total of 6 people participated in my study. Common themes emerged as a result of my study, which parallel previous research studies. These themes included shock and denial, a sense of grief and loss, feelings …

African American Experiences Of Racism When Operating A Small Business, Sheliza Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the racism that African Americans experienced when operating a small business. African Americans are more likely to start a business than members of other minority groups. However, African Americans are also less likely to succeed. Low success rates relate to the racial inequities that contribute to systemic racism. The racism that African Americans experience is deeply rooted in societal constructs that have been ingrained for many years. General racism and systemic racism are societal constructs that work against the socioeconomic status of African Americans and their communities. The purpose of this phenomenological study …

The Effects Of Secondary Traumatic Stress And Resilience On The Indicators Of Compassion Fatigue Among Occupational Therapists, Gayla Ann Aguilar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCompassion fatigue (CF) has been described as the “cost of caring” for traumatized individuals, which may lead to missed workdays, diminished work satisfaction, increased turnover, and decreased client care. CF has long been studied in other caring professionals, but occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) have been largely overlooked. The purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to determine the relationship between secondary traumatic stress (STS) and resilience (RES) on burnout (BO) and compassion satisfaction (CS; i.e., indicators of CF) in OTPs. In this study, the moderation effect that RES has on STS and BO as related to CF in 68 completed …

The Role Of Diversity Management Policies And Practices In Advancing Inclusive Culture, Christopher Emeka Babundo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe Roles of Diversity Management Policies and Practices in Advancing Inclusive Culture by Christopher Emeka Babundo

MBA, Azusa Pacific University, 2014MA, Azusa Pacific University, 2013 BS, University of Benin, Nigeria, 2002

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Walden UniversityAugust 2023

Mediators Between Job Stress And Health Quality Of Life Among Adults With Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Aida M. Benitez-Rexach

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal affliction that affects millions around the globe, impacting health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The biopsychosocial model, Folkman and Lazarus’ transactional model of stress, Leventhal’s common sense model of self-regulation health and illness, and Bronfenbrenner’s human ecology theory are relevant to conceptualize interactions among environmental factors, biopsychosocial responses, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This quantitative, cross-sectional, complex correlational study sought to provide more understanding of how and whether IBS symptoms of pain, cognitive functioning, and interpersonal functioning serve as mediators between work stress and HRQoL. A total of 133 English-speaking volunteers from …

Differences In Criminal Behavior Based On Experiences Involving Parental Incarceration, Brooke Bowie Fitzgerald

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental abandonment, a form of abuse and neglect, can be experienced due to various factors, including incarceration. When parents are incarcerated, children may face factors such as housing instability, financial strain, behavioral problems, mental health issues, and criminal justice involvement. Due to little research that is available, there are challenges in terms of providing programs to children in this position that could focus on preventing negative impacts of parental incarceration in order to combat substance abuse and criminal behaviors, promote better adjustment to stressors, and support mental health treatment. The attachment theory, developed by Bowlby, Ainsworth, and Blatz was used …

Exploring Goal Setting And Motivational Experiences For Adult Workers With Autism, Daniel Ball

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractWhile the heterogeneity of autism for adults has been much more accepted over the past 40 years, research still has a broad gap to fill as there is scarce empirical evidence on how interventions, such as motivational tactics, need to be adapted to meet individual abilities and needs. Also, the number of workers entering the workforce each year is growing as a ratio. It is posited by various authors that one in 52 people are now diagnosed as having the disorder and this number has doubled over the past decade. Furthermore, 80% of this population is underemployed or unemployed, representing …

Personal Hardiness As An Unexamined Component Of The Healthy Volunteer Effect, Angelique E. Blann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clinical trials are the standard for approving medicines for public use. To conduct trials, researchers depend on a declining number of volunteers. The healthy volunteer effect, a phenomenon in which participants demonstrate better outcomes than their peers, limits the generalizability of trial outcomes. The healthy volunteer effect does not fully explain the outcome difference between volunteers and nonvolunteers. The purpose of this cross-sectional quantitative study was to examine personal hardiness as an unexplored component of the healthy volunteer effect and determine whether personal hardiness is associated with willingness to participate. Hardiness was a personality construct that represented resilience to stress. …

Attachment And Its Prediction Of Emotional-Social Intelligence (Esi) Of African American Females During Mid-To-Late Adolescence, Lauren N. Callahan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Attachment and emotional-social intelligence (ESI) have been an area of study among scholars since attachment has been shown to impact important areas of psychosocial development. This study involved exploring attachment or the adolescent bonding experience, and its prediction of ESI of African American females during mid-to-late adolescence. Researchers have demonstrated there are ethnic differences in terms of attachment and ESI but have not established predictive relationships among African Americans. The purpose of this study was to examine attachment and its prediction of ESI of African American females between 15 and 18. Using a quantitative design, the Adolescent Attachment Questionnaire and …

Microaggressions Against Ethnic Individuals From Minorities In Counseling, Joan Morton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEven though the current literature addresses racial microaggressions among ethnic minority people and implications for counseling, no qualitative research that included the voices of ethnic minority individuals was found. Researchers have not fully addressed the prevalence of racial microaggressions in counseling sessions. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to explore the lived encounters of ethnic minorities concerning racial microaggressions in counseling. The study issue was analyzed through the lens of critical race theory. Four participants were recruited from the Walden University participation pool. Data were selected through semi-structure interviews and narrative analysis was used to analyze data to …

The Underreporting Of Educator Sexual Misconduct In K-12 Schools, Nina Cordella Kornegay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Educator sexual misconduct continues to present a problem in U.S. K–12 schools. Asmandatory reporters, K–12 educators must report any suspicion of educator sexual misconduct, but despite state and federal laws regarding reporting, educator sexual misconduct often goes unreported. The purpose of this exploratory phenomenological study was to learn more about how U.S. K–12 educators perceive underreporting of educator sexual misconduct. The integrated change model served as this study’s conceptual framework. Semistructured interviews were conducted to collect data from eight educators in K–12 schools in two school districts in North Carolina. Coding analysis was used to identify themes. Five themes related …

Consideration Of Mindfulness Intervention For Hispanic Adolescents In A School Setting, Kierra Mcshine Gregory

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hispanic adolescents’ accessibility to treatment options for depression is met with limitations associated with financial barriers and cultural misalignment. This research study aimed to bring to light an alternative psychotherapy treatment through the foundations of mindfulness interventions. The goal was to understand the experience of Hispanic adolescents when engaging in mindfulness in a school setting. The purpose of this study was to gather information about the experiences of Hispanic adolescents using mindfulness to support mental health practitioners, school counselors, and behavioral interventionists to provide treatment options that are accessible and meet the needs of this culture group. This explanatory case …

The Experiences Of Latina Police Officers In Patrol, Jasmine Ivonne Reilly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this research was to describe the experiences of Latina police officers working in a patrol function. Latina officers working in law enforcement agencies must contend with an agency that is traditionally male and White, leaving these officers with the need to navigate territory that has, historically, not taken their needs into account. In an age where police agencies are attempting to better serve the public, the need for officers that fit minority demographic characteristics is necessary if police agencies are to continue legitimizing their space in modern American society. This research addressed some of the issues that …

The Effects Of Secondary Traumatic Stress And Resilience On The Indicators Of Compassion Fatigue Among Occupational Therapists, Gayla Ann Aguilar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCompassion fatigue (CF) has been described as the “cost of caring” for traumatized individuals, which may lead to missed workdays, diminished work satisfaction, increased turnover, and decreased client care. CF has long been studied in other caring professionals, but occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) have been largely overlooked. The purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to determine the relationship between secondary traumatic stress (STS) and resilience (RES) on burnout (BO) and compassion satisfaction (CS; i.e., indicators of CF) in OTPs. In this study, the moderation effect that RES has on STS and BO as related to CF in 68 completed …

Leadership's Impact On Employee Work Motivation And Performance, Tonia Marilu Joseph-Armstrong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractLeadership is a major factor in terms of motivating employees, leading to enhanced performance. A study was conducted to examine the influence of supervisory leadership style on employee work motivation and job performance in organizations, specifically in a K-12 school setting. The main goal was to determine if there is a relationship between type of leadership demonstrated by school administrators and its impact on the teaching staff’s motivation and performance. Data for this quantitative study were gathered and analyzed from various public and private schools and included a sample of 100 participants. The predictor variable leadership was assessed using the …

Lived Experiences Of Job-Hopping Millennials During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Dottie Dancy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Millennials, also known as “the job-hopping generation,” are on the brink of becoming the largest generation in the workforce by 2025. In March 2020, a global pandemic was declared due to the spread of the virus known as COVID-19, which led to more than 5.3 million deaths globally. Prior research has been conducted concerning the job-hopping tendencies of Millennials, but previous studies have not incorporated the life-changing event of the global pandemic and how it may have changed the beliefs and attitudes of the Millennial generation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the voluntary job-hopping beliefs and …